PERSONA PSP
This game holds a special place in my heart as being the first console RPG that I played on the PSOne, and man, was it a piece of shit. Its early incarnation suffered from what all RPGs suffer in the early stages of a console: mediocre graphics, un-user friendly interfaces, horrendous load times, and overall asstastic editing. The game was no exception, so being allowed to play it again on the Playstation Portable was greatly appreciated (GO ATLUS!)
The game fits into the larger Megami Tensei series, which has spawned dozens of offshoot titles and series. The basic premise behind most games in the series is that the world is about to undergo a cataclysmic event and the protagonist is endowed with demon summoning abilities to change the world for the better...or the worse, should the player choose. The Persona series takes a unique spin on this formula and instead of summoning demons, the protagonists summon these creatures as aspects of their personality in a Jungian-Pokemon fashion. Through character actions and serious grinding, newer, more powerful personae emerge to assist the heroes in stopping the forces bearing upon them.
(Minor Spoilers Ahead)
The basic plot of the first Persona game is snatched right from your traditional anime series, as our youthful protagonists begin playing a local game in an abandoned classroom of their school. Upon witnessing the ensuing events, their town is overrun by monsters and with the help of their newly awakened persona ability, they charge off to locate the source of the madness and promptly kick its ass. Along the way, the protagonists learn the truth about the demon invasion, come to a decision about how to handle it, and save the world for the better. Sounds pretty run of the mill stuff for a console game, but adding in parallel worlds, cosmic gods, split personalities, and evolving personae does give the game its charm. One of the things that the Persona games have always been adept at doing is providing a limited physical landscape to travel, but providing endless story lines and plot hooks to explore.
In terms of the game play elements, as many people discuss, the game does not age well. Even though the PSP version sports an entirely new battle and overworld interface, reduces load time, and provides much needed additional save points, the first-person dungeon perspective and lack of developed dialogue makes for some jarring experiences. The characters themselves are a bit two-dimensional and fail to live up to the standards set by other entries in the series. Aside from all that, here is what does work. The game has two divergent story lines which players can follow: the SEBEC story and the Snow Queen Quest, the latter of which is a themed dungeon run. The persona aspect, in its infancy, departed wildly from its contemporary PSOne counterparts, and the PSP version still holds the same charm of coaxing cards from demons with conversation rather than brute force and fusing them together to create new personae. For those who love the grind and their Pokemon, this element will hold your interest. The conversation system is fun as well, and those playing the game blind will enjoy locating the exact dialogue choices to get the cards. As an aesthetic note, the electronica music from the original has been replaced by Shoji Meguro's interpretation of the original soundtrack.
Out of the entire series, this is the weakest entry, but to be fair, it has to live up to three monster sequels that all redefined RPG storylines and mechanics. So if this game whets your appetite, seek out Persona 2 if you still want the linear gaming experience, or Persona 3 and 4 if you like your Persona goodness paired with some wholesome dating sim fun.
Here is a brief video of the Snow Queen Quest. Beware that it has some minor spoilers:
Captain Osmotic's Faves and Hates
Most Awesome Character
- Yuki - Out of the entire group of teenagers, we get one really cool and responsible person.
- Nanjo - He is a real bastard and his arrogant dialogue makes me want to punch his pixelated face.
- Starting the Snow Queen Quest - The opening FMV is really cool.
- Listing to Nanjo talk - Really, it is that bad.
- "PERSONA!!!" - When calling out your persona.
- Persona 2 (Innocent Sin/Eternal Punishment) - Playing in one game, then playing in a weird alternate reality of the first game=Epic
- Persona 3 - The second game in my entire life that I couldn't bear to finish, but still did. I never wanted it to end, and I was almost in tears to see it over.
- Persona 4 - Huh, so you can refine the gameplay of 3, give me characters that I am ambivalent toward, and provide an engaging mystery for them to solve, all of which add up to a fun game. Who knew?
